Amusement ride



July l, 1969 B. J. MARooN AMUSEMENT RIDEl Filed oct. 9, 1967 INVENT OR @afn/fa J0 Manoa/7 United States Patent O 3,452,681 AMUSEMENT RIDE Barbara Jo Maroon, 4721 Charlotte, Kansas City, Mo. 64116 Filed Oct. 9, 1967, Ser. No. 673,586 Int. Cl. A63g 7/00, 31/16; A63c 15/ 00 U.S. Cl. 104-62 7 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to amusement rides and, more particularly, to apparatus for simulating the riding of a Surfboard on water.

It is the primary object of the instant invention to provide apparatus which moves along a path of travel which very closely simulates the motion of a surfboard carried on the Water by waves.

Another important object of the invention is to provide apparatus constructed so that the skill required in taking the ride Without losing balance is very similar to that required in actually riding a Surfboard.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a safety net associated with the passenger carrier so that a rider may test his skill in Surfboard riding without need of fear of injury.

A further object of :the invention is the provision of signaling means to reveal the event of the passenger losing his balance on the simulated Surfboard, thereby lending realism to the Surfboard ride.

These and other important aims and objects of the instant invention will be further explained or will become apparent from the following description, claims and drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view of apparatus for an amusement ride constructed pursuant to the principles of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevational View of the passenger carrier forming a part of the apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a vertical, cross-sectional view taken along line 3 3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical cross-sectional view through one net-supporting upright, parts of the signal alarm being illustrated schematically.

Apparatus comprising an amusement ride embodying the principles of this invention is designated broadly by the numeral and includes an elongated `track 12 having undulations 14 therein as is illustrated in FIG. 1. Track 12 is supported by a trestle structure 16 at an elevation above the ground so that a carrier 18 mounted on track 12 may proceed along the latter under the influence of gravity. Manifestly, carrier 18 could be provided with a prime mover Ifor driving the same along track 12 and it would not be necessary to support the track in an elevated position.

Carrier 18 includes a frame 20 carried by a pair of mobile supports 22 which are, in turn, engaged upon the ice outwardly extending flanges 24 of the track 12 as is illustrated clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3. The supports 22 may be pivotally connected at 26 and 28 to frame 20 to permit independent up and down movement of the front and rear portions of frame 20 as carrier 18 traverses the -undulating track 12, all as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

An elongated, generally rectangular platform 30 is mounted above frame 20 in substantially overlying relationship with respect to track 12 by pivot means broadly designated 32. Pivot means 32 is constructed as is illustrated for side-to-side rocking motion of platform 30 along an axis which is substantially parallel to track 12. A plurality of uprights 34 are carried by frame 20 at the corners of the latter and support a net 36 of yieldable material such as nylon or the like. I-t will be seen that net 36 is disposed around platform 30 in position to catch a passenger who might fall from a standing position on platform 30 as will be hereinafter explained.

At least one of the uprights 34 is of tubular construction and an elongated element such as a rope 38 or the like, forms a part of the upper marginal edge of net 36 as is illustrated best in FIG. 4. Rope 38 extends into an opening 40 adjacent the uppermost end of upright 34, is trained over a pulley 42 and is secured to a block of insulating material 44 which is slidable within the tubular upright 34. A contact 46 carried by the block 44 at one side thereof is of electrically conductive material and serves as a switch contact to bridge the fixed contacts 48 and 50 mounted on one side of upright 34. Manifestly, contacts 48 and 50 are electrically insulated from the side wall of upright 34.

The contact 48 is electrically coupled through a line 52 to one side of a source of electrical energy such as battery 54, while switch contact 50 is electrically coupled through line 56 to a signaling alarm 58 which may be a light for emitting a visual signal or could be an audio emitting device of any suitable type. The other side of signal 58 is coupled through line 60 tothe other side of the battery 54.

In operation, a passenger may ascend to the carrier 18 by means of a ladder 62 and enter the carrier 18 while the ladder is at the end of track 12 adjacent ladder 62. The passenger takes a standing position on platform 30 approximating the position of a Surfboard rider and the shape and pivotal mounting of platform 30 gives the passenger the sensation of standing on a Surfboard which is floating on water. Carrier 18 is then released or otherwise propelled along track 12 to simulate the movement of the Surfboard over the water. As carrier 18 encounters the successive undulations 14, the movement of platform 30 approximates the movement of a Surfboard as the same is carried along by waves on the water. All the while, the passenger must maintain his balance on platform 30 even though the same is subject to side-to-side rocking action on the axis of pivot means 32.

Should the passenger lose his balance, as would be encountered by failing to skillfully manipulate a surfboard, his body physically encounters the yieldable net 36 or, more particularly, he will likely catch hold of the upper marginal edge of the net 36. This causes a drawing upon the rope 38 which slides block 44 into a position for causing the bridging of the contacts 48 and 50 by contact 46. Signal device 58 then signifies that the passenger has lost his balance and has not successfully ridden the Surfboard to the completion of the ride. After the passenger releases rope 38, block 44 assumes its original position under the influence of spring 64 secured to frame 20.

Manifestly, net 36 serves as a safety device to prevent falling of the passenger from carrier 18. The yieldable 3 material of net 36 serves to cushion the passenger from injury occasioned by his falling from platform 30. It is contemplated that a pair of ropes 38 may be utilized. In such event, the ropes may be securely fastened to one of the uprights 34 and proceed in opposite directions from this upright 34 around the net 36 to the diametrically opposite upright 34 which contains the block 44 and contacts 46-50. In such event, an additional pulley 66 is mounted in upright 34 as illustrated in FIG. 4, all as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Further, it will be recognized that any of a number of signaling devices and actuating means could be provided in combination with carrier 18 for physical engagement by the rider for activating a signal -to indicate that the rider has lost his balance. Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In an amusement ride for simulating surfboarding and including an elongated track and a passenger carrier mounted on the -track for movement therealong, said carrier comprising:

a frame; means movably mounting the frame on the track; an elongated platform simulating a Surfboard and adapted to support said passenger on the platform in a standing position; and

pivot means rockably mounting said platform on the frame whereby said passenger may balance the platform with the weight of his body while in said position to simulate the riding of a Surfboard as the carrier moves along said track.

2. The invention of claim 1, said pivot means being disposed generally parallel and in overlying relationship to said track for vside-to-side rocking of the platform above the track and about a fore-and-aft extending axis parallel to the track.

3. The invention of claim 1, said carrier including a plurality of uprights carried by the frame and spaced horizontally from said platform, and a net supported by the uprights and extending around said platform.

4. The invention of claim 1, and alarm means carried by said frame adjacent the platform and disposed to be physically engaged by said passenger upon losing balance on the platform to operate said alarm means to signify said loss of balance.

5. The invention of claim 3, said net being yieldable,

an alarm carried by the frame; and

an elongated, flexible operating element operably coupled with the alarm for activating the latter upon pulling on the element, said element being secured to the net whereby physical engagement of the passenger with the net upon losing his balance on the platform pulls on the element to activate said alarm.

6. The invention of claim 5, said alarm including means for emitting an audible signal.

7. The invention of claim 5, said alarm including means -for emitting a visual signal.

References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 401,593 4/1909 France.

ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner.

DANIEL F. WORTH III, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 273--86 

